Reese shifted in the seat behind the wheel of the Rover. “He’s on the job, Kate. Things happen. You’ll make it worse if you blow his cover.”
“Something’s wrong. I know it. He’s in trouble. I’m not waiting.” Kate cracked the door and stepped out of the Rover. At the same time, Reese got out and strode around to her side of the car.
“I believe in following your gut. Let’s go.”
“Should we call the police?”
“Could make things worse. Let’s take a look around first, call if we have to.” Reese started for the building, Kate right beside him, keeping up with the man’s long strides. Sticking to the plan they had formulated on the drive over just in case, they went to the rear entrance. According to Jason, there was a stairwell just inside, easy access to the second floor where he figured the men were being entertained.
They paused at the locked door, and Kate bit her lip as Reese reached into the pocket of his cargo pants, pulled out a pair of expensive leather driving gloves and pulled them on. A set of lock picks appeared out of another pocket, and Reese went to work.
It was only a matter of seconds before the lock turned, Reese opened the door and they stepped inside. So the millionaire businessman was skilled at B&E. The man was full of surprises.
They quietly climbed the back stairs, the sound of laughter and voices getting louder as they neared the second floor. Up ahead, one of the doors began to swing open and they flattened themselves against the wall. A man walked out smiling, zipping his fly as he continued along the hall back toward the elevator at the opposite end.
“How are we going to find him?” Kate whispered.
“We’ll just have to look.” Figuring Jase wasn’t in the room the man had just left, Reese stared opening doors on one side of the hall while Kate opened doors on the other. Just a quick peek to see if Jason was in there.
The occupants were so busy they didn’t seem to notice the brief interruption. Kate wished she could block the images of naked men and women in every conceivable position, but it wasn’t likely.
The din of voices and music was coming from a room not far from the elevator, probably where the men were being entertained. Halfway down the hall, Reese paused to listen, then pulled his pistol. Kate drew her revolver and hurried over to join him.
“Someone’s throwing punches. Let’s take a look.”
Kate eased close enough to hear what was happening on the other side of the door.
“Who the hell are you?” a man’s deep voice demanded. “You can make this easy or hard. Either way, you’re gonna talk.”
Kate’s heart jerked at the sound of a fist driving into flesh. Reese looked at her and mouthed,Three, two, one, turned the knob and shoved open the door.
Reese and Kate both rushed inside what appeared to be a supply room, their pistols pointed at the big, brawny, dark-haired man with his fist drawn back.
“Hands in the air,” Reese commanded without raising his voice. “Move. Now. Over against the wall.” Eyeing the heavy weapon, the man moved cautiously in that direction.
Kate’s gaze locked on Jason, slumped forward in the chair he was tied to. His jaw was bruised, blood trickling from a cut on the side of his head.
Reese handed her his Swiss Army knife. Kate steadied her grip and cut the plastic zip ties binding his wrists and ankles. His head came up. His eyes found hers, and they swam with some unreadable emotion. He seemed to collect himself and took a shuddering breath. His shoulders straightened as he pushed to his feet.
“Damned glad to see you two,” he said weakly. He shook his head, trying to clear it. “You call the cops?”
“Not yet,” Reese said.
“Anyone see you come in?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Good. Let’s get some answers before we leave.” He staggered, straightened, walked to the beefy man and pulled something out of the guy’s pocket.
“Let’s see if we’ve got any juice left.” It was a stun gun, Kate saw, the way they must have taken Jase down.
He jammed it into the side of the beefy man’s neck. A strangled scream turned into a series of jerky muscle spasms that sent the man sprawling on the floor, gasping for breath like a fish on dry land.
“Still works just fine, eh, Marvin?” Jase walked over to a stack of linens in the storeroom where Reese had tossed the weapons he had taken. Jase picked up his little .380.
While Marvin was still half dazed, Jase dragged him into the same chair he had been tied to and pressed the gun against the side of the man’s head.
“Where are they keeping the rest of the women?” he asked.
